Cyclofemme 2014, Wheels of Change

May 11th, 2014 marked the day Arkansas Outside hosted Central Arkansas’s third Cyclofemme ride. Fulfilling a mission as important as encouraging and empowering more women to get on their bikes and ride could be a full time endeavor. While we continue striving to share the love of cycling as well as running, paddling, and other outdoor sports, we are indebted to those who have committed their time and energy to to the mission of Cyclofemme.

TO EMPOWER THE FUTURE of women in cycling and the opportunity for positive social change. Encourage women to ride and they will change the world.

Women are the wheels of change. When mothers ride, children will ride. When mothers choose to commute by bicycle, children learn sustainability. When mothers lead an active lifestyle, families are healthier. When mothers fight for safe routes to school, for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and the future of their cities, politicians listen.

Over 50 female cyclists, getting ready to ride.

The women of Arkansas Heels on Wheels once again took the helm of leading the road rides as we had three separate groups, based on desired pace for the hour long ride. Central Arkansas Velo rider, mountain bike racer, and frequent women’s ride leader, Laura Wooldridge, with the help of Vanderkitten Rider, Addie Teo, and several of our local mountain biking, dirt loving, rock riding girls, led a group of women who wanted to get their tires off the road and on the dirt. Central Arkansas will be forever grateful to the women who take on the mission of leading other women to embrace the power of the pedal, because they are the conduit of change.

One of the three road groups (along with a couple of manbassadors) near the Big Dam Bridge.

The mountain bike group on Pfeifer Loop.

Each year we welcome more women into the Cyclofemme community, and each year we’ve been pleased to see the familiar faces who keep the cyclo-love alive from day to day, year to year. This year we had women who came from as far away as Monticello and Ft. Smith to ride with us, and we were joined by Carol who recently moved to Little Rock. She was looking to find riding comrades; she came to the right place.

Elizabeth and Lalita came all the way from Fort Smith to ride in the Central Arkansas Cyclofemme event.

Local support for the annual Cyclofemme ride is growing with the Central Arkansas Velo group on board as the sponsor of the temporary tattoos that everyone seems to love. Some love the tattoo so much that they have made it permanent. Repeat Cyclofemme rider Dianne came this year with a very fresh shoulder tattoo in honor of the ride.

Dianne sporting a real (and fresh) Cyclofemme Tattoo.

Local cyclist and proprietor of Wild Birds Unlimited, Jim Allen, donated funds for refreshments and local business Geek Eats provided several varieties of their hummus for the ladies to enjoy post-ride.

Cupcakes, chips, hummus, fruit, veggies, etc.

The Arkansas Heels on Wheels group makes Cyclofemme a 365 day/year mission. Victoria, Stacy, Chantal, Willa and the other members of AHOW are out on the roads and trails several days a week, leading rides and encouraging women, and sometimes even the guys, to get moving. Their mission isn’t just about cycling but about healthy and supportive friendships too.

Post ride rest, bonding and energizing.

A big thanks goes out to Dimitri and The Community Bicyclist for providing on site maintenance support for a couple of flat tires and other minor repairs.

Our youngest manbassador showing off his tattoo.

It’s thrilling to have our local event as a part of a global movement; to know that as 50 women in Little Rock, Arkansas are enjoying a day on our bikes, we join thousands of women around the world to share the love of bicycle. Why?

Because Together We Ride

More photos on our Facebook page. Feel free to share, download, tag and comment on them.

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